Azad Jummu and (AJK) Snow Emergency Preliminarily Findings, 24 January 2020

Snow emergency, Neelum district

Summary of Key Findings

Affected Population Damages & Losses

30,370 12,410 68 74 182 436 Total affected Families are People People died Houses Livestock families of severely injured damaged deaths Neelum affected District  Initial findings indicates that in Neelum district, three Union Councils (UCs) are severely affected. These include; Sharda, Guraiz, Dodhnial and Kel. The remaining seven UCs of Neelum, UC Bahadi of Haveli and UC of Jhelum Valley districts are also affected.  31,466 families of Neelum district are directly or indirectly affected, out of which 12, 410 families of the district living in three Union Councils are severely affected.  The population of the area are dependent on livestock, agriculture, forest, seasonal labour and business at micro level for its subsistence. Maize is the major crop grown in the area, other main food crops include red beans and potatoes.  During this season the unexpected early and heavy snowfall in mid-October 2019 has destroyed ready-to-harvest Maize crop and the resident were not able to properly preposition their food stocks and fodder for the livestock. This has resulted in critical shortage of food in the affected areas.  Around 17 shops in the Valley are destroyed along with the food and non-food stocks inside. Due roads blockage some other markets in the valley are inaccessible, and also disconnected with other big markets within or/and outside the district. This has resulted in critical shortage of food availability in markets of the area.  Road access to the affected areas is not fully operational, as of 23 January, to Surgon and up to Kel are accessible by road from . Upper areas in the valley are still not accessible.  Immediate needs of the affected population include; food, non-food items, shelter (winterized shelters, tents, warm clothes, heating system etc.) and lifesaving medicines etc.  Initially un-conditional food distribution to 12,410 families of the three severely affected UCs could be an important means to ensure their food and nutrition security.  There is a need to collect detailed information about sector-wise humanitarian needs to have a targeted humanitarian response.

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

District Profile Neelum district is situated at north and north east of Muzaffarabad, and borders with Indian held Kashmir. Area wise it is the biggest district of AJK, having total area of 3,621 km2. Key statistics of the district are as below.

Demographic Total population Total Male Female 191,251 94,333 96,900 Total number of households 27,184 Average household size (Neelum 7 district) Average household size (AJK) 6 Administrative Total number of tehsils 2 Total number of union councils 10 Total number of revenue villages 88 Agriculture, livestock and food Total farm area (hectare) 22,217 Farm area per family (hectare) 0.817 Cereals production(tons) 2017 Wheat production 140 Maize production 8,302 Rice production 45 Vegetable production(tons) 2017 Onion 9.94 Garlic 35.65 Cucumber 13.46 Tomato 86.78 Potato 1,405.05 Others 790.9 Livestock population (2017) Cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, 180,873 mules, asses Livestock heads per family (avg.) 7 Poultry 161,960 Poultry per family (avg.) 6 Source: Azad Jammu & Kashmir Statistical Year Book 20181 Livelihood Majority of the population in the district depends on livestock, agriculture, forest, seasonal labour and business at micro level for its subsistence. On average farm area per family is two acres, while livestock heads per family is seven. Maize is the major food crop in the area.

1 https://www.pndajk.gov.pk/uploadfiles/downloads/STATISTICAL%20YEAR%20BOOK%202018.pdf 3

Snow emergency, Neelum district

Education Neelum district has low literacy rate of 50% as compared to the overall literacy rate (71%) of AJ&K. Mostly the government schools have shortage of staff with in-sufficient school buildings, labs, extra-curriculum and other education facilities. According to Alif Ailaan report 2017 Neelum has school infrastructure score of 21.02 with the 144th position among 156 districts of Pakistan2. Main Hazards Neelum district is one of the most disaster prone districts of AJK because of the presence of many hazards; land sliding, avalanches, cross border firing, flood and earthquake. Landslide is a frequently occurring hazard intensified by the effects of earthquake. During summer season when snow melts and during monsoon season landslide becomes a routine occurrence. During winter season snow avalanche is another frequently occurring hazard because many parts of the district receive snowfall for almost half of the year. Snow Avalanche in Neelum Valley; 14 January 2020 Between 13 and 14 January 2020, a spell of heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides have affected districts of Neelum, Haveli and Jhelum Valley. The worst affected district is Neelum, resulted in casualties and massive infrastructure damage. The upper parts of Neelum were disconnected with lower parts and with its neighbouring districts. This resulted in access constraints to the affected areas delaying rescue and relief operation which exacerbated the situation of the affected people. Methodology: To assess the preliminary status on damages, affected population and their needs, VAM mission was planned to Muzaffarabad from 22-24 January 2020. To understand the situation, the mission had one to one meetings with key officials and sectors representatives of the AJK Government in Muzaffarabad and also had telephonic interview with representative of District Disaster Management Authority (DDLA), Neelum district. List of the Govt. officials and sector representatives with whom meetings were held is Annexed D. Findings a) Heavy snow fall and avalanches have resulted in casualties and massive infrastructure damage in three districts of AJK: Neelum, Haveli and Jhelum Valley. b) As of 23 January 2020, total number of people died are 74, injured 68, houses completely damaged 88, houses partially damaged 94, shops destroyed 17, and livestock deaths 436. Annexure B: Details of livestock deaths c) Initial assessment indicates that in Neelum district, three Union Councils (UCs) are severely affected. These include; Sharda, Guraiz and Kel. The remaining seven UCs of Neelum district and UC Bahadi of and UC Leepa of Jhelum Valley district are also affected. Annexure A: Map of affected areas. d) The preliminary findings indicates that directly and/or indirectly Neelum district entire population is affected. In numbers, total affected population are: 30,370

2 https://elections.alifailaan.pk/wp-includes/file/DER17.pdf 4

Snow emergency, Neelum district

families, 225,846 individuals, out of which severely affected families are 12,410 living in Union Councils of Sharda, Guraiz, Dodhnial and Kel. Union council wise population numbers are provided in table below.

Population Population (source: BOS AJK) (source: SDMA) District Tehsil Union Council Remarks Individuals Households Individuals Households

Guraiz 17,234 2,238 20,631 2,980 Sharda

Kel 19,771 2,589 29,284 3,500 Sharda Severely affected Sharda 17,681 2,329 17,833 3,420 Sharda

Dodhnial 12,769 1,971 13,895 2,510 Sharda

Ashkot 18,385 2,875 22,191 2,840 Athmuqam

Neelum Barian 22,374 3,614 24,581 2,820 Athmuqam

Kundal Shahi 28,598 3,493 29,087 4,240 Athmuqam Affected Minicipal Committee 7,922 1,204 32,778 3,200 Athmuqam

Neelum 34,157 4,967 35,566 4,860 Athmuqam

Salkhala/Shahkot 12,360 1,904 — — Athmuqam

Total 191,251 27,184 225,846 30,370

Haveli Bahadi — — 23000 3,000 Affected

Haveli

Leepa Leepa — — 31829 4,304 Affected

Jhelum Valley

Total 54,829 7,304

e) The people in the area have mixed sources of livelihood and are dependent on livestock, agriculture, forest, seasonal labour and business at micro level for its subsistence. Maize is the major crop grown in the area, other main food crops include, wheat, rice, red beans and potatoes. f) Mid-April to mid-May is the sowing period for the Maize and Red Beans, whereas October-November is the harvesting period for these crops. g) Usually, the snow fall in Neelum Valley start by end November, and by that time the residents have harvested Maize and Red Beans crops and have stocked the fuel wood and fodder for their livestock. However, during this season the unexpected early and heavy snowfall in mid-October 2019 has destroyed their ready-to-harvest Maize crop and the resident were not able to properly preposition their food stocks as planned and fodder for their livestock. h) The spells of heavy snowfall in January 2020 has partially or fully destroyed the houses in parts of Upper Neelum Valley, and the limited food stocks at homes is also destroyed. This has resulted in critical shortage of own food stocks in the affected areas. i) Around 17 shops in the Valley are destroyed along with the food and non-food stocks inside. Due roads blockage some other markets in the valley are

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

inaccessible, and also disconnected with other big markets within and outside the district. This has resulted in critical shortage of food availability in markets of the area. j) As of 23 January with improvement in the weather, few areas of the Valley starting from Athmuqam to Surgon and up to Kel are accessible by road from Muzaffarabad. It is anticipated that if weather situation continue improving, the road access to upper areas will possibly be improved in coming few days. k) Immediate needs of the affected population include; food, non-food items, shelter (winterized shelters, tents, warm clothes, heating system etc.) and lifesaving medicines etc. l) As of 23 January, the Govt. of AJK has distributed food items among 200 affected families, to take care of their food needs for one month. Details of the food items are at Annexure C.

Recommendations Based on the initial findings on the food security and livelihood situation of the affected areas, as well as considering the immediate needs of the severely affected population, the following are the key recommendations: 1. In the severely affected areas, there is critical shortage of residents own food stocks, as well as serious shortage of food availability in markets of the affected areas. Therefore, initially un-conditional food distribution to the population in the severely affected could be an important means to ensure food and nutrition security of the most vulnerable families. 2. In the severely affected UCs, most of the houses are partially or fully damages, therefore provision of winterized shelters, tents and warm clothes are necessary to protect the people from harsh weather. 3. Immediate clearance of roads blockage of the affected areas is necessary to ensure quick access to the areas for humanitarian interventions. 4. For livestock, the provision of medication, shelter, and fodder/animal feed are of primary needs. 5. There is a need to collect detailed information about sector-wise humanitarian needs to have a targeted humanitarian response. 6. Rehabilitation of community infrastructure should be a priority

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

Annexure A – Map of affected areas

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

Annexure B – Details of livestock losses

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

Annexure C – List of food items distributed by GoAJK

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Snow emergency, Neelum district

Annexure D- List of meeting participants

Meetings were held with following Govt. officials and sector representatives.

1. Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Commissioner /Relief Commissioner, Muzaffarabad 2. Mr. Saeed ur Rehman Qureshi, Director Operations State Disaster Management Authority, Muzaffarabad 3. Mian Waheed, Former Minister for Education/Forests, Muzaffarabad 4. Dr. Arif Iqbal, Director Livestock Muzaffarabad 5. Mr. Mushtaq Pirzada, Director GIS, Muzaffarabad 6. Mr. Shafeeq, Director Agriculture Research, Muzaffarabad 7. Mr. Akhtar Ayub, Deputy Director District Disaster Management Authority, Neelum

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